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Locke exam + Visitation Parish
MODERN PHILOSOPHY – (Fr Santos) — Mid-term exam on John Locke. 3 essays. — I think I did exceptionally well.
MID-TERM BREAK BEGINS — after, our last class today, we can leave for our weeklong break. Without anymore tests and papers due, some of us need to keep busy doing anything … even arm-wrestling before class … all in brotherly fellowship (… I hope).
VISITATION PARISH — On my way driving home, I dropped off a seminarian staying at The Church of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Miami. Fr Chris Marino is the pastor of a beautiful parish. I saw the newly redone interior, but the lights were off, so I only took pictures outside. There are also some great pictures on their website. It’s also the former parish of my current Pastor Fr Dalton.
ten piedad + soccer + lawn movie night
SPANISH 2 – (Dr Jimenez) — Spanish mid-term on chapter 12. — “Senor profesor, ten piedad de nosotros, por favor!”
SOCCER — with the stressful exam week, we had an evening of soccer (non-tournament) after dinner and played until we couldn’t see the ball anymore. — I was ball boy, again
WALK-IN MOVIE NIGHT — 8pm tonight we had a different kind of movie night for our last evening together before the weeklong “Mid-Semester Break.” We laid out on the grass & watched “Norbit” projected onto a wall outside. — Great idea! Need more OFF!
Italian food night
OLD TESTAMENT – (Fr Michael) — Mid-term exam. 2 wrong. 88%.
CULTURAL FOOD NIGHT — Today was “Italian Food Night.” We had tasty pasta, garlic bread, lamb and for dessert, so kind of donuts in a bag of powdered sugar (I forgot the name). — Great food!
TV — “The Unit” & “Cane”
St John Neumann + Jubilee Vespers
MASS – (Fr Michael) — Today was our monthly Sunday parish visitation. This week was 11am Mass at St John Neumann Parish in south Miami. All 64 of us seminarians were in the front rows in our black suits in a beautiful parish (tour of their parish on their website here). The homily highlighted the lives of both Pope John Paul II and the founding Archbishop Coleman Carroll. We stayed after Mass to talk with parishoner and were treated to lunch. — A great experience. Special thanks to Fr Carmelo Romanello for concelebrating the Mass.
JUBILEE VESPERS – (Archbishop Favalora) — today is the 49th birthday of the Archdiocese of Miami and the beginning of a yearlong celebration leading up to the 50th Jubilee of our diocese. At 4pm, the Miami seminarians joined Vespers (evening prayer for Liturgy of the Hours) at St Mary’s Cathedral led by the Archbishop. It was a beautiful service with clergy, religious and laity from all over the archdiocese praying vespers with cantors, organ & choir.
cross – MVP – goals
MASS – (Fr Santos) — today I was alter serving Mass with the “Cross,” which means I carry the cross, assist with alter preparations and assist with “washing of the hands.” [Note to self: on exit, run before every leaves without me.]
SOCCER — After “Spiritual Direction,” I went out to watch the second soccer game and was crowned “Soccer MVP” for “ball-boy” running all over the back parking lot for soccer balls. I couldn’t stay for the end of the game since “Archdiocese of Miami” brothers had a meeting.
GOALS & OBJECTIVES — today was the deadline for turning in “Personal Goals & Objectives” for this year. We need to set a general “goal” and at least 1 “objective” for each to improve in each of the 4 areas: Spiritual (improve prayer life), Human (be more communal), Academic (improve my Spanish), and Pastoral (assist my brothers more)
care package
Busy day with 3 classes, worklist (mopping floors) and Holy Hour before a good pork – baked potato – kolleyflour dinner. Watched the new Pushing Daisies series and some Bionic Woman. Even with all that, the best part of the day was …
“CARE PACKAGE” — Yeah! Some “The Office” stuff, summer vacation pictures & the 2nd season of “The Muppets” on DVD. — life is way too AWESOME! Thank you, caring stranger!
Talledega food night
OLD TESTAMENT – (Fr Michael) — reviewed our test (83%). Covered “Pentateuchal Traditions” (J–E–D–P) and “Genesis.”
CULTURAL FOOD NIGHT — today was “Talledega” food night with some suthurn cookin’. We all got so excited about the AWESOME cornbread and fried chicken, I forgot to take a picture before eating.
volleyball
[this is a backdated post] All I can remember about Monday is evening VOLLEYBALL! (–but I’m sure I learned something in today’s 4 classes, too) — and I missed “Heroes”, but it was worth it … v o l l e y b a l l 🙂
Parent Day
Today we had lots and LOTS of vistors! It was “Parent Day” where immediate family is invited to spend the evening together for a tour, Mass, dinner and entertainment. With 65 seminarians, we had a record number of people (about 300) from all over the world. Everything went great! Everyone worked together to prepare, plan, execute and clean-up (I even served wine). We had some great entertainment, ranging from solos, poetry, skits (“Making Beans” & “Pick-Pocket”) and some music (including “Amore“). –We’ve got a talented & blessed house!
2 tests – Archangel Battle – tables
MODERN PHILOSOPHY – (Fr Santos) — Quiz on Decartes. 3 essay questions took the whole hour: How was he successful at determining “self” as the “rock of certainty”? How did he fail at proving “world” and “God” as “innate”? How was “world” distinct from “self” and “God”? — at least those are the questions I thought (through subjective perception and err) I answered.
ANCIENT PHILOSOPHY – (Fr Santos) — continued Plato’s Phaedo to explore personal, social & objective immortality. Body vs soul. 4 Causes: material, efficient, formal & final.
ARTS & IDEAS – (Fr Vallee) — test on Classic Greek Culture. Also turned in a 3 page Reflection paper on “Greek Hellenic Idealism vs. Hellenistic Reality.”
SOCCER TOURNAMENT — Soccer has become some big here that we have a 4 team tournament going on. Today was game 2 of round 1. It was called the “Battle of the Archangels” because one team is called St Raphael and the other ??? Today’s game was supposed to be last night, but there wasn’t enough light. — today was too hot (1:30pm)
TABLE SETUP — in preparation for Parent Day tomorrow, we set up the tables in the Refrectory for 300 people! — wow
VOCATION LINK UPDATE — Yesterday I had a record 35 hits on my Vocations link page (& 190 for my whole site), so I decided to add more than just Miami links. Added some links for general vocation info, seminary listings and all the diocese of Florida with their vocation links. I even found some profiles of some of my brother here. — it only took me 4 month to add stuff in a half hour … procrastinator
pre-T house blessing
Today, the Rector’s staff met with the Board of Trustees, who are mainly the bishops of Florida. Just before lunch, we had all the Pre-Theology guys and bishops at the 2 new off-site housing locations (1 block away) to be blessed. The picture I took of Rector Fr Michael and Archbishop Favalora blessing the grounds was located in the shared back yard of both duplexes. There’s still some detail to take care of (like adding grass), but the new residences look great.
Bishop Estevez – name graces – volleyball fix
MODERN PHILOSOPHY – (Fr Santos) — started John Locke’s “An Essay Concerning Human Understanding.” Empiricism vs rationalism.
ANCIENT PHILOSOPHY – (Fr Santos) — continued Plato’s Phaedo with “knowledge as recollection” and “the indestructibility of the soul.”
ARTS & IDEAS – (Fr Vallee) — finished the Greek handout for our test on Friday.
WORKLIST — in “Sacristy,” I had bathrooms, so I finished pretty quick with time enough to help mop. The tapistry of St Lawrence (hurricane damaged) was also being put up, so I took some pictures up close.
HOLY HOUR — with a small delegation of visitors from a Cuban priest and religious conference in Miami, we were blessed to have Bishop Estevez presiding over Benediction & Vespers. He mentioned some words of wisdom from a formator in seminary that stood out for him. He said we should NAME the graces we receive throughout the day in order to trace our journey with the Lord. — that’s a great idea … like “Connect-the-dots” of grace … I should do that, but I probably won’t stick to it
VOLLEYBALL TONIGHT — I finally got my fix tonight from 9-10pm in the gym. I hope we can have it more regularly (weekly at least).
CONNECT-the-DOTS — (since holy hour🙂 rain … benediction … air conditioning … Bishop’s blessing … good food … table fellowship … quiet study … volleyball … health & safety … refreshing shower … did I mention volleyball? 🙂
Matrix acolyte + Vietnamese food + choir tryouts
MASS – (Fr Joseph) — the homily story was the “2 brothers’ grain exchange,” but more importantly (to me), today was my first time serving as Acolyte. I haven’t been an alter server at Mass since 6th grade 20 years ago … so I was nervous. Since I didn’t have a cassock & surplice, one of my seminarian brother gave me an extra cassock (black robe) he had and I borrowed a surplice (white top) from another brother.
Here’s what I can remember (that I haven’t repressed): everything went well, until I presented Fr Joseph with the water & wine … I forgot to take the tops off! … and had to fumble around on the alter to get them open (--I don’t know how my heart restarted). If that’s not enough … after the Eucharistic prayer, when I tried (important distinction) to get up from kneeling, I forgot to pull up my cassock, slipped (repeatedly) and fell back like Neo dodging bullets in the Matrix. I thought everyone saw me, but later found out few noticed. —learning the hard way.
OLD TESTAMENT – (Fr Michael) — our first test was 36 multiple choice questions. I know I missed the 3 about names of specific Vatican documents (– didn’t see those coming). Then we covered various Biblical translations and the history of our Canonical books of Scripture.
CULTURAL FOOD NIGHT — Today was “Vietnamese Food Night” — with some Vietnamese carrot cake for dessert?
CHOIR TRYOUT — all new guys were required to tryout for “Escoela,” the choir that practices on Wednesday nights and sings at Sunday Mass and special events. —la-la-lA-LA-LA [I didn’t make it — found out Wed morning — ok by me]
TV — watched the season opener of “The Unit“
silent retreat – fall in love
Today finished our 24 hour “Day of Reflection” with a Vigil Mass at 4:30pm. It was a “silent retreat” that helped us to “retreat” from our busy-ness and be “silent” to listen to what the Lord has to say. Of all the 4 conferences, the line that stood out for me was a quote from the late Jesuit Superior General Fr Pedro Arrupe:
Nothing is more practical than finding God, that is, than falling in love in a quite absolute, final way. What you are in love with, what seizes your imagination, will affect everything. It will decide what will get you out of bed in the morning, what you will do with your evenings, how you spend your weekends, what you read, who you know, what breaks your heart, and what amazes you with joy and gratitude. Fall in love, stay in love and it will decide everything.
We must fall in love with Jesus Christ first … and that will decide everything else.
Last night’s rain storm filled our “Reflection Pond” enough for a beautiful picture of the entrance grounds. I also spent some time reflecting in some beautiful outdoor areas around the main St Raphael Chapel. (the pictures don’t do them justice)
good shadow – Hail Father
MASS – (Fr Joseph) — a story of a “Good Man” offered any miracle from an angel. He refuses “the gift of healing,” “the ability to change sinners righteous,” & the opportunity to be a “sign of virtue.” He refuses all so that he gets no credit and God get the glory. Even though he says “grace is enough,” the angel gives his shadow healing power so people don’t focus on him, but God.
MODERN PHILOSOPHY – (Fr Santos) — “SELF” is the primary “innate idea” (but God?)
ANCIENT PHILOSOPHY – (Fr Santos) — started Plato’s “Phaedo” — the first philosophical arguement for the immortality of the soul.
ART & IDEAS – (Fr Vallee) — we began with the “Hail Father” and discussed more on Socrates to Aristotle. “Universals, ideas & substances dominate.” … “Plato divides the soul into the appetitive, emotional, and rational parts, which were located in the abdomen, the chest and the head, respectively.” … “Aristotle’s metaphysics is the elaboration of the four causes: formal, fina, material & efficient.”
DAY of REFLECTION — a 24 hour day of reflection starts today at 5:15pm and goes until tomorrow’s Vigil Mass.
new men commit – steak & champaign
SPANISH 2 – (Dr Jimenez) — today we continued the imperative verb forms like “ataca Anti-Christo” and revisited the “gang of irregular preterites” (–ataca them too)
MASS – (Fr Michael) — today’s schedule was changed with 4:30 Mass for the “New Men Commitment & Reception Ceremony” to officially accept the New Men into the house, marking the end of the “New Student Experience.” The homily highlighted the feast of the Korean martyrs Andrew (priest) and Paul (catechist & seminarian). A beautiful Mass with a steak & champaign dinner afterwards. —delicious
RECTOR’s CONFERENCE – (Fr Michael) — the “New Men” had part 2 of 2 on “The Priesthood: A Theological Overview.” — Busy day.
Buddah + Big Dog + sacristy
MASS – (Fr Vallee) — Today’s Gospel shows how critics saw John the Baptist as crazy and Jesus as a “glutton and a drunkard.” You can’t please everyone all the time. It’s what God thinks of you that matters … not anyone else. Some key phrases … “It’s easier to wear slippers than to carpet the whole world.” & “If you meet Buddah in the road, kill him.”
MODERN PHILOSOPHY – (Fr Santos) — continued Descartes. I think [of other] therefore I am.
ANCIENT PHILOSOPHY – (Fr Santos) — watched a story video on Socrates. Finished “Crito”
ARTS & IDEAS – (Fr Vallee) — pgs 17-23. “Forms.” Icons (windows) vs Idols (the end).
WORKLIST & HOLY HOUR — for worklist, I cleaned the sanctuary & mopped the sacristy & some pews in the Chapel. For Holy Hour, Fr Alvarez told a story of “the Big Dog.” (Chris-notes🙂 Big dog was in control of everything except his wagging tail — tried to catch it & control it — little dog gave advice from experience — if you stay focused forward, everything else will follow. — so it is if we focus on Christ.
spleen love – Puerto Rican food
MASS – (Fr Santos) — Today’s Gospel shows Jesus “moved with pity” for a woman who walked in her son’s funeral procession. From the Greek text, Jesus is moved “from his innermost being,” which was believed to have come from the spleen (–it’s somewhat close to the heart). The priests that “the Church” responds most to are those that are “compassionate & kind,” who have love for the people, but, most especially, for Christ “from their innermost being.”
SPANISH 2 – (Dr Jimenez) — Preterite quiz today (mixed with some imperfect) — tricky — not good — 70%
CULTURAL FOOD NIGHT — Today is the first ethnic food night. Every Tuesday, the food theme is from a ethnic background of the various seminarians in the house. Today’s theme is Puerto Rico. Dessert was flan. — it was good.
1 ugly man in heaven
MASS – (Fr Joseph) — Today’s Gospel was full of parables: “Lost Sheep,” “Lost Coin” & “Prodigal Son.” The homily story was “The Ugly Man in Heaven.” The destroyed “Chris-notes” version to jog my memory is this: Gabriel reads each Commandment … violators are sent to hell … by the 6th commandment, only 1 Ugly Man is left … Heaven will be lonely, so God lets everyone back in … to the upset of the Ugly Man (who was worth). The closing point: “His mercy endures forever.” — Amen.
Bill Baggs – 13th floor – mexican
DAY TRIP — Today was the first opitional weekend trip planned by Fr Michael. A group of us went to Bill Baggs State Park at the tip of Key Biscayne. An afternoon of fun in the sun.
MOVIE — watched the “The Thirteenth Floor” a couple times to get the connection to Decartes (assignment for Modern Philosophy). Fr Santos likes it better than the Matrix (I wouldn’t go that far). — “I think therefore I am” … (I think?)
DINNER — Today’s dinner theme was “Mexican.” — great food
SJVCS Seminary Life Album
July '09 -- hospital chaplains @ IPF
Easter '09 -- Miami SJVCS friends
the Son always finds a break in let the clouds
Feb '09 -- school vocation talks @ AMHS
Feb '09 -- cold breakfast with brothers (Matias, Fenly & Randy), now at SVDP and Imad (at SJVCS)
Superbowl '09 -- eating great @ SJVCS
Sept '08 -- Worklist Coordinators?
St Raphael Chapel mural @ SJVCS
Sept '08 -- retreats @ SJVCS
"It's not easy being green"
Catholic Kermit 
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